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Votes at a glance: Manteno board approves remote attendance, tree replacements, tax rebate and several spending items
Summary
The Manteno Village Board voted on a package of ordinances and expenditures June 15 — adopting a remote-attendance ordinance, approving a pilot tree replacement, passing a 50% tax rebate for 2025 residents, authorizing bench installations, awarding an MFT resurfacing PSA, buying a dump truck, and adopting updated financial rules.
In a single, eventful meeting the Manteno Village Board approved several ordinances and purchases that together shape the village budget and capital plans.
Ordinances and formal votes: Trustees voted to adopt Ordinance 2602 (adding a remote attendance provision to the municipal code) after reconsideration and debate about guardrails and frequency limits. They also approved Ordinance 2603 to establish a 2025 tax reimbursement account enabling a 50% property-tax rebate to owners of taxable homestead property (Trustees noted the village is facing a reported $1.6 million deficit and that the rebate is estimated at roughly $650,000). The board adopted Ordinance 26-04 to update the village investment policy to comply with state statutory changes since 2017 and Ordinance 26-06 to declare municipal turf surplus and donate it to the local school.
Contracts and purchases: The board approved an estimate of $9,350 to replace nine declining street trees on Main Street as a pilot project (Scenic Landscaping). Trustees approved the installation of three park benches at $2,500 each with a plan to seek sponsors to cover half the upfront cost. The board awarded a professional services agreement to HR Green for the 2026 Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) resurfacing program (MFT funds to cover eligible engineering and QA as reviewed by the state). After extended discussion weighing leasing versus buying, trustees approved the purchase of a 2027 F750 crew cab dump/plow truck from Linco Equipment Sales for $199,247.
Financial motions: The board approved payment of bills listed for the cycle, and trustees discussed ongoing account transfers prompted by the recent forensic audit and the village’s process to open new bank accounts to protect village assets.
Why it matters: Several of these votes have direct budgetary implications (tax rebate, vehicle purchase, bench and tree expenditures) while others update town rules or implement routine infrastructure programs. Trustees repeatedly balanced short-term budget caution with long-term infrastructure needs — for example, several trustees recommended leasing as a short-term approach to truck replacement, while others argued that buying is more fiscally prudent long term.
Votes and outcomes (high-level): Ordinance 2602 — adopted; Scenic Landscaping estimate $9,350 — approved; Ordinance 2603 (50% rebate) — approved; bench installations — approved; HR Green PSA for MFT resurfacing — approved; 2027 F750 truck purchase ($199,247) — approved; investment policy update (Ordinance 26-04) — approved; surplus turf donation (Ordinance 26-06) — approved; payment of bills — approved.
Next steps: Several items carry implementation steps — landscaping contractor oversight, locating benches and securing sponsors, vehicle procurement and fleet in-service scheduling, and finalizing MFT project engineering — and staff were directed to follow up on these actions.
